[An education experience for promoting breast-feeding and infant stimulation by low-income women: a preliminary study]

Abstract

This study included a preliminary analysis of the effectiveness of an educational program on breast-feeding and infant stimulation techniques. The program, developed by Garcia-Montrone (1992), was applied to a group of mothers (experimental group) of low socio-economic status. The program was evaluated by direct observation of mother-infant interaction and interviews with the mothers up to six months after childbirth. Results were compared with a control group of women matched for age, educational level, and previous experience with breast-feeding. Each group began with 10 mother-infant dyads, and there was one withdrawal in each group over the course of the study. 55% of the mothers in the experimental group were still breast-feeding six months after childbirth, compared to 22% in the control group. The experimental group also showed a significantly higher frequency of stimulation of the infant, both during and after breast-feeding. The authors conclude that it is feasible to combine breast-feeding and infant stimulation instruction in an educational program for women of low socio-economic status and that the use of this program can help reduce risk factors both for malnutrition and developmental retardation.